[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 2, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54535-54536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19410]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-714-001, C-821-825]


Phosphate Fertilizers From the Kingdom of Morocco and the Russian 
Federation: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the 
Countervailing Duty Investigations

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

DATES: Applicable September 2, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Palmer at (202) 482-9068 (the 
Kingdom of Morocco (Morocco)) or George Ayache at (202) 482-2623 (the 
Russian

[[Page 54536]]

Federation (Russia)), AD/CVD Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and 
Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 16, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated 
countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of phosphate 
fertilizers from Morocco and Russia.\1\ Currently, the preliminary 
determinations are due no later than September 21, 2020.\2\
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    \1\ See Phosphate Fertilizers from the Kingdom of Morocco and 
the Russian Federation: Initiation of Countervailing Duty 
Investigations, 85 FR 44505 (July 23, 2020) (Initiation Notice).
    \2\ The current deadline for the preliminary determination falls 
on September 19, 2020, which is a Saturday. Commerce's practice 
dictates that where a deadline falls on a weekend or federal 
holiday, the appropriate deadline is the next business day, which is 
Monday, September 21, 2020. See Notice of Clarification: Application 
of ``Next Business Day'' Rule for Administrative Determination 
Deadlines Pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930, As Amended, 70 FR 
24533 (May 10, 2005).
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Postponement of Preliminary Determinations

    Section 703(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), 
requires Commerce to issue the preliminary determination in a CVD 
investigation within 65 days after the date on which Commerce initiated 
the investigation. However, section 703(c)(1) of the Act permits 
Commerce to postpone the preliminary determination until no later than 
130 days after the date on which Commerce initiated the investigation 
if: (A) The petitioner \3\ makes a timely request for a postponement; 
or (B) Commerce concludes that the parties concerned are cooperating, 
that the investigation is extraordinarily complicated, and that 
additional time is necessary to make a preliminary determination. Under 
19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioner must submit a request for 
postponement 25 days or more before the scheduled date of the 
preliminary determination and must state the reasons for the request. 
Commerce will grant the request unless it finds compelling reasons to 
deny the request.
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    \3\ The petitioner in these proceedings is the Mosaic Company.
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    On August 20, 2020, the petitioner submitted a timely request that 
Commerce postpone the preliminary CVD determinations.\4\ The petitioner 
stated that it requests postponement as ``additional time is needed for 
{Commerce{time}  to analyze fully the questionnaire responses, issue 
supplemental questionnaires as appropriate, and prepare an accurate 
preliminary determination.'' \5\
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    \4\ See Petitioner's Letters, ``Phosphate Fertilizers from 
Morocco: Petitioner's Request for Postponement of the Preliminary 
Determination,'' dated August 20, 2020; and ``Phosphate Fertilizers 
from Russia: Petitioner's Request for Postponement of the 
Preliminary Determination,'' dated August 20, 2020.
    \5\ Id.
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    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioner has stated the 
reasons for requesting a postponement of the preliminary determination, 
and Commerce finds no compelling reason to deny the request. Therefore, 
in accordance with section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act, Commerce is 
postponing the deadline for the preliminary determinations to no later 
than 130 days after the date on which these investigations were 
initiated, i.e., November 23, 2020. Pursuant to section 705(a)(1) of 
the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the deadline for the final 
determinations of these investigations will continue to be 75 days 
after the date of the preliminary determinations.
    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 703(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: August 28, 2020.
Joseph A. Laroski Jr.,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations.
[FR Doc. 2020-19410 Filed 9-1-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P